Danny re-entered Steve's room after being gone less than half an hour.
Kono was curled up on the couch sleeping and Chin looked up from his chair at the bed side, "Well that went quick. Is everything alright?"
Danny raised his hands up, "Probably not...that guy's a real dick you know that?"
Chin smirked, "Danny, what did you say?"
"Not much. I told him I was trying to save Steve's life, because I WAS. And, I told him he'd been sitting behind a desk too long"
"Danny..."
"And he may not have appreciated my language. Hey Chin, what I say doesn't even matter? He wants my badge..."
He was stopped mid-sentence as Steve interrupted him, "What... are you tttttalking... 'bout Danno?"
Danny moved up, and leaning on the bed rail he touched his partner's shoulder, "Hey you're awake"
"Yeah...what are yy...yyyou talking about?"
"Nothing for you to worry about buddy. How do you feel"
"I'm good...Danno...ttt...talk to me. Who want's... your badge?" His voice was soft and so terribly weak. Steve then tried in vain to push himself up, grimacing in pain.
"STEVE dear God, Stop….." Danny pushed him back onto the bed with ease.
Steve sucked in his breath, "Www…whhat's happening?" He again pushed upward fighting Danny's grasp.
"Stop…. please…it's alright partner. You have to calm down now. Fryer's just got a bug up his ass and he's opened an IA investigation into how I handled the robbery that's all. It'll be fine"
Steve's body relaxed back onto the pillow and he reached his hand up, Danny grabbed it he spoke softly, "I don't... rememmmbbber anything Danno...what happened?…..."
"You were shot in a bank robbery babe, you're going to be fine. I'll tell you everything when you're feeling a bit better. Let me get you some pain meds now"
"No...no drugs"
Danny reached up and ran the back of his fingers across Steve's forehead, "Ssshhhhhhhh, sleep Steve…..we're here babe, just sleep"
In moments the SEAL was sleeping as Danny sat gripping his hand.
As Kono continued to sleep peacefully Danny filled Chin in on all the details of the IA interview. Danny then left to get a breath of fresh air and cool down. Chin was sitting bedside when Steve woke again a short time later.
"Hey boss, can I get you anything?"
"I'm gg..gggood Chin…..thanks. Where's…Dannnny?"
"He's getting some fresh air, he'll be back soon"
"Chin….ttell mme….wwhat happened?"
Chin took Steve's hand in his, "Do you remember the robbery at all?"
"Nnno…..notthing"
Chin told him everything Danny had told him. "I've also talked to Duke and he's talked to the hostages, they all back Danny's story 100%"
"Then wwhhy…..is IA involved?" Steve's back arched in pain and Chin tightened his grip on his hand.
It took several minutes for Steve's body to relax, "Steve, you shouldn't be worrying yourself with this. You need to rest"
"Of course I nnneed… to worry about this...what aren't…..yyyyou telling me?"
"It's nothing really boss, please relax"
"DDAMMN it Chin! I'm ...I'm nnnot going to ...relax until yy…you tttell me what's...going on" Steve's distress was apparent and Kono woke to the commotion joining Chin at the bedside.
She reached up and ran a hand through his hair, speaking soothingly, "Steve stop, you have to relax baby, you're going to hurt yourself"
"What are...youu …keeping ffrom mme?" his breathing was fast and he was in obvious pain.
Chin spoke firmly as he tightened his grip on the SEAL's hand, "LISTEN STEVE, I will tell you EVERYTHING once you calm down. But if you're going to get all riled up we'll simply have the nurse put you out! I'm serious Steven, you HAVE to relax!"
Both Steve and Kono looked at the small quiet Asian man in disbelief, 'Steven?' when had Chin EVER called him Steven?
Steve spoke quietly, "Okay...Okay man" He closed his eyes and tried to regulate his breathing. Kono continued to caress his head and face as she spoke softly, "That's good Steve, nice deep breaths"
After several minutes Chin continued, "Danny met with Fryer this morning and he got a bit lippy with him. Apparently the Sergeant got right down to business without even inquiring on your condition and that set our Jersey boy off right away. He told Fryer that he was trying to save your life Steve, and you and I both know how Fryer will try to twist that into meaning that he put the value of your life ahead of the civilian hostages. He then had a few choice and shall we say, colorful words regarding what he thought about the investigation and he told Fryer that he'd been sitting behind a desk too long. Our boy then deemed the interview over and stormed out of room ignoring Fryer's calls for him to return. That's it boss...THAT'S IT, just Danny being Danny. I tried to give him advice. I had told him to not say anything, to get legal counsel...I'm just hoping his words won't come back to haunt him"
Steve smiled, "Oh Danno, he sssure keeps... our lives in...interessstting doesn't he?"
Kono chuckled softly as Chin smiled adding, "That he does"
"I need to…tt..talk to the…. Governor without Danny kkknowinggg, ccccan you.…..set that up for me?"
"Of course I can. Are you up to it?"
"I won't be…. able to go ttto hhhim if….. that's what you mean..." The men grinned at each other, "But yyyyeah…..'m….. up to it. Danny's nnnnot… going down for this Chin. I have…..nnnn…no doubt that hhhee….dd..dddid everything in his power to keep tttthe… hostages safe" Steve grimaced in pain and Chin grasped his hand until the pain subsided.
"Please ggooo call the Governor…..sssee if he can stop up here…. lll….llater today or….. tomorrow maybe"
"Let's make a deal here Steve. You're still in a lot of pain. Let me set up an appointment for the Governor to come up here in two or three days when you're feeling better. I'll make sure he agrees to not let IA move ahead until you can talk to him okay? Do we have a deal?"
Steve nodded softly, "Uhhh….huhh…..'k….thankkks"
Chin moved to the corner of the room and placed the call as Kono wiped Steve's head and face with a cool cloth.
"You seem a bit warm again boss, let me call the nurse. How do you feel?"
"I've felt…bb…bbbetter sweetheart. Waaait though….. on the nurse 'til I hhhhear from Chin"
Chin returned a few minutes later, "Denning will put a hold on the investigation. He wants you to call him when you're up seeing him, NO RUSH"
"Okay, thanks Chin...tttthank you both….. for all you've done"
Kono leaned in kissing his cheek, "You bet boss, let me get the nurse now" She looked to Chin, "He seems a bit warm, just want her to check him"
Chin glared down at his fallen leader, "That's because you got all riled up, you know that"
"Don't start wwwith…..mmme Chin Ho Kelly…iif you hhhhad… told me everything right away I wouldn't…hhhave gotten riled up now would I?"
Chin smiled, shaking his head, "Yes sir"
Danny returned to the room as the nurse was leaving, "Is everything okay?"
Chin turned to him, "Yeah, he's just got a bit of a fever again"
"Oh yeah? How high?"
"It's nnnno big deal Danno"
"Sure thing Superman, but for some reason I think you're full of shit...Kono?"
"It's elevated again. It's at 102"
"And what are they doing about this?"
"Calm dddown Danny...'m fine"
"Steven you ARE NOT fine!"
Kono looked at Danny, "The nurse is calling for the Doctor to come examine him, he just needs to rest"
"Alright, so do that then Steven. We're all here, you close those pretty little eyes and get some sleep. Did she give you any pain meds?"
Steve's eyes were shut as he spoke, "No painnn….mm…meds Danny"
"Enough of your macho Navy SEAL shit partner. What the hell are we going to do with you huh?"
With his eyes still closed, Steve smiled and said again, although weaker this time, "No….pppain meds Danny"
It was about one in the afternoon and in minutes Steve surrendered to his exhausted body and slept.